Oil fracturing spacing agents

Abstract

Oil-soluble spacing agents for use in fracturing underground oil or gas formations comprising polymerized dimethyl-alpha-methylstyrenes.

We claim: 
     
       1. Substantially spherical deformable oil-soluble resin spacing particles having a softening point within the range 200° to 325° F. and a mesh size between 4 to 20 mesh, said resin selected from the group consisting of oil-soluble homopolymers of 3, 4, dimethyl alpha methyl styrene and oil soluble copolymers wherein the monomer units are 3, 4, dimethyl alpha methyl styrene and 3, 5 dimethyl alpha methyl styrene. 
     
     
       2. The spacing particles of claim 1 where the resin constitutes homopolymers of 3,4-dimethyl-alpha-methylstyrene. 
     
     
       3. The spacing particles of claim 2 having a softening point within the range 245° to 325° F. 
     
     
       4. In a process for fracturing a formation penetrated by a well, whereby a slurry of propping and oil-soluble spacing particles are injected under pressure through a well-hole into an oil- or gas-bearing geologic strata, the improvement which comprises including within a fracturing fluid effective proportions of substantially spherical deformable oil-soluble resin spacing particles having a softening point within the range 200°-320° F and a mesh size between 4 and 20 mesh, said resin selected from the group consisting of oil-soluble homopolymers of 3, 4, dimethyl alpha methyl styrene and oil soluble copolymers wherein the monomer units are 3, 4, dimethyl alpha methyl styrene and 3, 5 dimethyl alpha methyl styrene. 
     
     
       5. The process of claim 4 where the resin constitutes homopolymers of 3,4-dimethyl-alpha-methylstyrene. 
     
     
       6. The process of claim 5 in which the spacing particles have a softening point within the range 245° to 325° F.